TABLE Tennis is a game that requires precision and skill, but eagle–eyed viewers spotted an unusual Olympic player habit.
During the 2024 games, the players would wipe the table and blow on their rackets. So what is the reason behind this peculiar ritual?
Anna Hursey and Liam Pitchford are the two table tennis stars representing the UK at the 2024 Olympics.
Liam was knocked out by Darko Jorgic, despite beating Vicky Wu by a comfortable margin just the day before.
Paris 2024 was his fourth Olympic appearance.
Sadly, Anna was eliminated too, before winning a medal.
The 18-year-old is the first Welsh table tennis player to represent the UK at the Olympics.
Anna is one of the youngest table tennis players at the Olympics, but one of the oldest will not be returning.
Zhiying “Tania” Zeng, the 58-year-old who appeared at the Tokyo 2020 Games, has said that she will not be returning to represent Chile.
At the Paralympics, Will Bayley, fresh from his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, will play alongside Bly Twomey for Team GB.
Table tennis players often touch the table to wipe sweat from their hands.
The game requires you to have tight control, so players need to avoid the racket slipping in their hands.
Sometimes, though, players wipe their hands simply out of habit.
Just as a tennis player may bounce the ball before their serve, some table tennis players wipe their hands.
It’s a good strategy for appearing confident and relaxed in front of an opponent too.
The final reason for touching the table is that it wastes time during the game, allowing a player in the lead to wait out the clock.
Players blow on their paddles and their ball for the same reason that they wipe the table: to get rid of sweat.
A racket can absorb humidity and sweat, which will slow down the game when the player returns the ball.
If the players sweat a lot, since table tennis is such a physically demanding sport, the ball can get wet too.
A wet ball can prevent the racket’s rubber from gripping it, which can make a player miss their shot.
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY...
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Freestyle BMX world and European champ Kieran Reilly will be aiming to add the Olympic title to his collection (12.40pm).
Team GB’s men and women will both be in contention in the rowing quadruple sculls finals (11.25am).
BRITS TO WATCH
Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix – daughter of First Dates star Fred – and Lois Toulson go in the 10m synchro diving final (10am).
In the hockey, Team GB’s women know a win against South Africa is vital after starting with defeats to Spain and Australia (9.30am).
Commonwealth bronze medallist Jemima Yeats-Brown begins her -70kg judo campaign, two years on from losing her sister Jenny to brain cancer (9.20am).
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
The all-star USA men’s basketball team, featuring LeBron James and Steph Curry, face Olympic debutants South Sudan (8pm).
The 100m men’s freestyle final could be a classic with Tokyo champ Caeleb Dressel, new 200m gold medallist David Popovici plus Brits Duncan Scott and Matthew Richards all in contention (9.15pm).
And Jessica Fox could win her second gold of Paris 2024 if she defends her C1 canoe slalom from three years ago (4.25pm).
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
The beach volleyball is always spectacular viewing at any Olympics but this year even more so – because it is being played at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
There are matches all throughout the day from 8am to 9pm.
Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
